December 2, 2012

A taxi driver suffered a double-insult today when an apparently drunken passenger first vomited in his vehicle and then, after a scuffle, stole the car, Sacramento Police reported.

Sacramento Police Officer Michele Gigante, spokeswoman for the department, said the taxi driver reported that he picked up his fare - a man and a woman - shortly before 1 a.m. and took the passengers to the area of 16th and Q streets.

That's where the man's car reportedly was parked, Gigante said.

"Apparently, the suspect vomited inside the back of the cab," she said. "The victim pulled over and began to argue with the drunken suspect."

The two scuffled inside the car, Gigante said, then both stepped out of the car. Meanwhile, the woman also got out and paid cash for the fare.

That's when the male passenger ran around the car, jumped into the driver's seat and drove off, leaving the female passenger behind she said.

Then the woman fled on foot.

The California Highway Patrol recovered the taxi later in the day.

The male suspect was described as Asian American, about 39, 5-foot-8, thin build and intoxicated.

The identify of the taxi driver and the taxi company were not immediately available.

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